Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-07-01
COLLEGE COMMENCEMENTs.



MIDDLEBURY, June 26-Tha s1th conf
mencement of Middlebury college began
to-day with the baccalaureate address by
President Brainerd There was a large
audience present, as usual on these occa-
sions, and DR.. Brainerd's first baccalau-
reate discourse was listened to with the
closest attention. The following is an
abstract of the main address with
the closing words to the grad ating
class in full. President Bl nerd
taking for his text the closing word FROM
the Book of Judges Every man did thad
which was right in his own eyes" Our
attention is called to au important fact OF
our moral nature, that men usually fall
into sin and error without knowing t. 1t
is one of the saddest things in our h man
experience that we drift into error al. are
beguiled into sin.
We find in history that some of tn. most
wicked deeds have been committed il the
name of Righteousness and in all sincerity.
Our fellowmen may see plainly wherein
we have done amiss; but how ready we
are TO resent their censure and to protest
that we are misunderstood and our action
viewed from an improper standpoint. AS
we journey along carelesslv through life
we get into the wrong pathway before we
are aware of it, False guides lead us
astray. Enjoyments in the course we are
pursuing makes us 10th to question its
correctness.
The religion of Christ furnishes the
strongest safeguard against error and
Subdivisions. Christianity also ensures
us against wrong judgments by depressing
seltishness and Quickening our sympathieS
for our fellow-men. There is an infu-
ence from above nature that may enter
into the heart of man, quickening the I'M
Outstanding, helping him to form correct
shaving
his own eyes, but in the sight of the Lord.
Members of the graduating class Iou
are about to go forth into the broad world
to think and decide and act for yourselves
with fuller freedom than you have ever
exercised before. Life is before you, with
all its possibilities of grand achievement,
with its possibilities of mistakes and fail
uras. II is no easy matter To attain sue
cess. 1t is easy TO make mlssteps TO fall
in the search for truth and to wander in
the mazes of error without knowing it. Ii
is easy To make wrong decisions as to the
course that will best develop manly char
acter and to suffer moral inquiry in con
sequence.
ID You think this a gloomy aud dis
couraGiug view OF life | trust not SO,
when You remember the sufficient protec-
ton against these dangers furnished in
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There IS a joy
in conflict, when we can enter into ii with
the full assurance of triumph. \ stern
warfare is before you the battlefield Is
thick with dangers and full OF opportuni-
ties for heroic effort. But | believe you
are eager for the fray that you go forth
with that courage that finds delight in
overcoming difficulties
Such n courage may well he yours, If
you go forth under the guidance OF Him
who came into the world to be the way,
the truth and the life. Ponder we'll his
teachings and life will have for you
deeper significance. Follow Him in a
noble self-sacrihce to help along sinful
and suffering man and the prejudices
that befog the reason will clear away.
Live in communion with God and the
spirit of truth will guide you into all
truth.
Wesleyan University.
MIDDLETowN, Conn, June 26.-The
Wesleyan university baccalaureate was
delivered bv President Beach to day with
prayer by Bishop Foss of Minnesota. The
choir was composed of 80 students. The
text was from John xvi 33.